Disclaimer: It is not our role to determine whether or not somebody is a Christian. We just use our discernment based on the evidence we have found on the internet to come to a likely or best-guess answer. Our answers do not actually determine who is or is not a Christian and it is ultimately between the person and God. Not us.
Daniel Nwosu Jr. is a Canadian-born Nigerian rapper whose emergence to the spotlight can be attributed to his Youtube video, “Cash Me Outside” an ode featuring Danielle Bregoli. The video has over 22 million views on Youtube, ushering the Hip Hop, R&B, and rap artists into stardom.
Dax’s initial ambition was to become a professional basketballer, a sport he loved and played during his university days at Newman University, Wichita, Kansas. The 29 years old had no difficulty transitioning into full-time music and briefly worked as a janitor to pay his college fees also creating time for music.
Dax developed an interest in poetry and imitates Tupac’s music style. He has remixed three of Tupac’s songs. The Canadian-born rapper’s music addresses societal ills and serves as an international anthem for rap music lovers. His song “Dear Alcohol” released in March 2022 talks about the adverse effects of alcohol, and was certified Gold by RIAA and Music Canada.
Dax’s contentious 2019 single, “Dear God” highlights struggles with faith, belief, and commitment to religion. The song has over 44 million views on Youtube. The songster who holds a degree in Communication, expresses in-depth aching questions surrounding his belief. Those lyrics raised questions regarding his religious status. This article will provide answers to clear your doubts about Dax’s stance as a Christian.
Is Dax Religious?
The word “religious” describes the belief in a supernatural being and a personal/public expression of that belief. A religious person is devoted to his/her religion and is conscious of every detail in the practice of such religion.
Sometimes people wrongly label someone as “religious” if that person meets the outward and materialistic requirement of their faith, but we believe it’s beyond that. A religious person should fulfill the requirements of his faith personally and publicly without faking, and this should be evident in his lifestyle.
According to James 1:27, true religion is
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world”
The songster has made comments about his faith through his songs and these speak volumes of his religious stance. In his 2019 single, Dear God, Dax says, “I don’t want religion, I want spirituality” which is in tandem with James 1:27 above.
He goes further to inquire about faith in his song, “Battles with Faith” describing his religious sojourn and a quest to attain a spotless religion. He relays what is obtainable in today’s society, where every opinion is criticized and people are silenced. Below are some parts of the lyrics:
Strugglin’, I’m tryna find my way
Fightin’, I’m havin’ battles with faith
They criticize me and speak of my name
But perfect’s somethin’ that I’ll never be
That the world was hell and a test of faith
To crown those who would walk to the heavens gates
So I’d sit and wait
Face to face with those who would try to break my mental state
Then take all the hurt and pain and paint barbells I’d use
Just to shoulder weight now my strength
Got the people askin’, like, “Who’s stoppin’ him?
Does Dax believe in God?
The belief in a god is the focal point of most faiths and the god is considered an ideal perfect being. The reflection on the order of nature has been of great importance for the development of the belief in God, juxtaposed with the advancement of the social order. According to Aristotle, “God is pure Form without matter, pure activity without passivity and change; but such Form is only pure thinking, which again has only itself as its content.”
On various occasions, Dax has expressed his belief in God and how his belief has positively influenced his music. His lyrics are ceaselessly laced with a huge dose of this faith.
“I believe in God,” declares Dax on the Genius channel on YouTube. “I’m not a Christian rapper, I’m not a mainstream rapper, I’m not a YouTube rapper, I’m not an underground rapper, I’m not a green or a blue rapper. I’m an artist. One day I’m going to rap about how I’m the best. The next day I might rap about my belief in God. The next day I might rap about how I love this girl.”
In his 2021 song, “Child of God“, Dax paints his belief evidently via his lyrics, below are excerpts from the song:
“I answer to God
I don’t answer to no human being
I am not slave, I am not the devil nor a fiend I’m a child a God just like you we are on the same team
Child of God he is I, and you are him
to see God we must first look within
No where else, no place, no human, no race, just us, and faith, till we meet again
It’s Dax”
Is Dax a Christian?
Christianity is the world’s largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.4 billion followers representing one-third of the global population. The doctrine is tailored to the teachings of Jesus Christ whose birth, life, and death form a significant hallmark to the believers of this faith.
There have been several reports that Dax is a Christian. The artist has even admitted to being a Christian and has shared messages of faith with his fans, urging them to trust in God and the love of Jesus Christ. He uses his songs to inspire millions of listeners and tell them about Jesus Christ. The rapper on his social media accounts shares motivational Christian messages. On the 6th of May 2023, on his verified Twitter account, he tweeted:
“Wow…Can’t believe it’s already been 5 YEARS since I graduated, stopped playing basketball, quit the overnight janitor job, and decided to become a full-time music artist. You can do anything you set your mind to! If you were born, YOU WERE CHOSEN!”
The rapper’s tweet above can be alluded to as a biblical passage that charges Christians to act differently because they are called out. In 1 Peter 2:9, Apostle Paul describes the peculiarity of Christianity, he writes, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Probing further into Dax’s tweet, “…if you were born, You are Chosen” could also be traced to the new birth in Christ through baptism. John 1:12-13 writes, “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God”
In the introduction of the song, “Dear God”, the songster boldly points out his faith by retorting, “Let be clear, I’m a Christian, but sometimes it’s hard to believe.” Although he has been criticized for the views expressed in the song, the language used, and the nature of the questions asked. Some school of thought asserts that if truly he is a Christian, then he should find answers to his questions in the Bible.
The rapper does not relent in making it bold that he has read the Bible, nonetheless, the more he reads it, the more confused he is. Another line of the song says:
They been saying one thing but I’ve been looking in the book
And it seems like they’ve been lying for my whole damn life
Tell me where I’m going (Where?)
Is it heaven or hell?
He goes on to talk about heaven and hell, which is a Christianity concept of a place of eternal reward. Although he is not satisfied with the idea of eternal destruction, through hell fire.
Is Dax Baptized?
Jesus Christ, the central figure and founder of Christianity gave the charge for baptism. Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus chose to be baptized.
Baptism is not an alien concept to Dax. The Canadian rapper while recognizing his growth in his tweet on the 6th of May 2023 tweeted:
“Wow…Can’t believe it’s already been 5 YEARS since I graduated, stopped playing basketball, quit the overnight janitor job, and decided to become a full-time music artist. You can do anything you set your mind to! If you were born, YOU WERE CHOSEN!”
His tweet could be traced to the new birth in Christ through baptism. Hence, it could be deduced that the “Dear God” crooner might be baptized.
What did Dax say about Jesus?
The great commission is one of the significant instructions given by Jesus to his disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 reads: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“
The Bible scripture above charges Christians to propagate the religion as a true test of faith. Dax has not been ashamed to talk about his faith in Christianity. He has used his songs and inspirational messages to encourage people to get closer to God and their faith.
In November 2016, Dax tweeted, “The most attractive quality a person can have is to love Jesus. Makeup washes off. Looks fade. A heart of God echoes into eternity.” on his verified Twitter account.
Again, in December 2016, he tweeted “Know Christ and make Him Known,” resonating with the concept of evangelism which is a Christian principle.
Conclusion
Only a few celebrities have not been ashamed to publicly express their faith and Dax is one of them. Dax has openly talked about his love for Jesus and how God has always been there for him no matter how bad it gets.
The controversial American Christian rapper posed a series of questions to God in “Dear God.” The song was received with raised eyebrows, nonetheless, the rapper is resolute in his faith in God. Though Dax has not revealed the church he builds his faith with, he outrightly mentioned that he is a Christian.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!